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STEVENS POINT – Pacelli girls tennis coach Joyce Krusa had a good feeling heading into WIAA Division 2 sectional play last week.

Having been moved to the Durand sectional, the Cardinals coach figured her team had a chance to send multiple individuals to the state individual tournament in Madison.

She was spot on in her expectations, as Kaylyn Kluck in singles, along with the doubles teams of Nicole Schroeder and Molly Wirtz and Anna Koehl and Tia Krzykowski will all take their best shots at bringing home a state championship.

"We were hoping once we got moved (to a different sectional) that we might be able to go as a team, and we took second," Krusa said. "I felt pretty good Kaylyn would go and was pretty sure our No. 1 doubles (Wirtz and Schroeder) would go back.

"Towards the end of the season, our No. 2 doubles team was really starting to click and was really shining all the way through the subsectional and sectional."

The one thing that did surprise Krusa, however, was seeing Wirtz and Schroeder land the No. 8 seed in the doubles competition.

Not so much because her top doubles team wasn't deserving of the recognition — the duo will take a sparkling 20-2 record into play starting today at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.

Krusa just figured the seeding committee might feel there were eight teams better around the state.

Don't get her wrong — she's not complaining.

"I was a little bit surprised, because there are a lot of very good teams," Krusa said. "I feel they could go quite far. If everything starts clicking right, Molly and Nicole could go into Saturday play."

Schroeder and Wirtz will face Megan DuBois and Alyssa Carew of Xavier (19-5) in their opening match.

The teams met toward the end of the season but were unable to complete the match due to weather, with Pacelli's tandem up a set and ahead 5-3 in the second set.

Wirtz and Schroeder reached the second round last year before being eliminated in three sets.

"They know they can go further," their coach said.

Meanwhile, Kluck's dream since arriving at Pacelli was to reach the state tournament, and she will finally be able to experience that goal in her senior season.

Kluck (18-3) will be matched up against Altoona junior Cassandra Barr (20-3) in the opening round today.

"I think that's a fairly good draw for her in the first round," Krusa said. "Kaylyn's strength is her ability to get to the ball and get the ball back."

This will be the first trip to state for Krzykowski, a junior, and sophomore Koehl, who will meet fifth-seeded Paige Moritz and Lindsey Thomas of Kenosha St. Joseph (16-2) in their first match.

Even though experience won't be on their side, Krusa figures the opening match presents a golden opportunity for Koehl and Krzykowski to make a name for themselves by pulling off an upset.

"They have progressed throughout the season, and they're playing very well. To me, Anna and Tia are just starting to hit their peak, or at least that's what I'm hoping for," the Cardinals coach said.

"Just getting to state is an accomplishment, and if you make it through the first round, great; and then if you make it through the second round, woo hoo."

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill